Laws

FIRST SESSION, COMMENCED, AT VANDALIA, DECEMBER 2, 1823. ^ AND ENDED FEBRUARY 18, 1823.

TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED

Tbe Iieciaratiow Of INnfcPENDENCB, The ARTICLES OP CONFEDERATION, Tns CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITtn STATTS. THE Dkll) OF CE98IOX FROM VIRGINIA, THE ORDINANCE FOK THE GOVtHNMENT OF THE TEltniTOWY N. W OF THE OHIO, THE ACT l'F CONGRESS FOR THh AIIM1SSIUN OF ILLINOIS INTO THE UNI- ON, im THE ACT OF CONGHASS FOH TAKING VP FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE ANH RUNAWAY SLAVAS.

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.

PRINTED BY BLACKWELL & BERRY.

PRINTERS TO THE STAT^.

IS9A

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4th, 1776.

*HE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIETEEN UN1TED STATES OF AMERICA.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary /or one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's tjod entitle them, a decent aspect to the opinions of mankind tequirfis^that they should declare the causes which impel them to the se.p*ai!ation.

We hold these truths to be-s/lf AvWent—that all men are created equal; that they are endowe'd" by "their Creator with Certain unalienable rights; that among thes'e."Hfe.1jfe, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure fhes,e rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just/powere from the consent of the governed; that whenever any forntof*government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the."peopie to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, faying kX foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, »s to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; .and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are jnore disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny oyer these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refuse:! his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary fort! e .->•• lie good.

He has fori'' -.a Sis governors to pass laws of immediate and presabg; tmpe net, unless suspended in their operation, till his